Birchfur is best known for freeing nearly half of Riverclan from the tyranny of its last leader; a feat that nearly cost him his life. Though he was the youngest of the Founders, and amongst the youngest of the survivors, his unflinching bravery and determination ensured that he held a great deal of influence over the other cats and was highly regarded throughout his life. He was eventually to become Waterclans first leader, and is today considered the protector of clan courage – he who once kept fear from breaking them and showed that there was always a way.

Smokeclaw was the first cat to answer Cloudheart’s calls for peace, and perhaps the most tireless in the survivors efforts to gain it. He was the strongest of the Founders and the one responsible for giving the survivors much of their fighting strength, and also a cat who is renowned for his uncompromising viewpoints. However, he was supremely loyal and showed little interest in dominating the other three, instead dedicating himself to the survivors defence. It was these traits that saw him coaxed into leading Treeclan, and eventually turned him into the defender of strength – he who gave power to the Founders and their plans, and ensured that their will would be done.

A one-eyed she-cat best known for being the Valley’s first, and at one time only, Medicine Cat. She is credited with saving countless lives during the emigration from the Lake and following the Purging, and is consequently well-regarded by all clans. This is particularly true of the Valley’s Medicine Cats, who know her as their Founder; the she who demanded the ‘Promises to Medicine Cats’ treaty, sacrificed stable clan life in favour of tending to all Valley cats, and single-handedly trained the first official Medicine Cats of Mudclan, Stoneclan, Treeclan and Waterclan. She spent her final moon with Mudclan, having grown too ill to continue tending to the Valley, and is consequently considered an ‘honorary’ Mudclanner.

Unlike his followers and counterpart, Sting was reportedly a tom of slim build and average size; the sort of figure one would sooner push aside than bend to. However, he was also renowned for his cunning and tactical mind, and it was this that saw him named the joint leader of the Rogue attack. He is said to have been the brain behind the assault, just as Nettle was the brawn and the figurehead, and it is widely believe [particularly by his gangs descendants] that the attack would never have occurred were it not for him, and would have ended very differently had his counterpart heeded his words. Sting’s fate is unclear, but the Valley Cats generally assume that he was killed following Nettle’s fall.

This tom was, and is, the most influential of all the Founders, and is often considered the unofficial leader of the four. It is he who is credited with bringing the survivors together and giving them the chance to live, and he who holds the honour of restoring law and integrity to the clans. To this day he is remembered for his charisma and his quick thinking and held not only as the defender of justice – he who stood up for what was right– but also as The Valleys first leader and hero, though he was never granted nine lives.

This feline was both the longest-lived Founder, and the only she-cat amongst their number. Though her resquees were predominantly kits and elders, and she was both the smallest and weakest of the four, she swiftly earned the survivors regard with her endless compassion and infallible optimism. It is she who is credited with giving the survivors their codes, structure and shared customs, for it was she who gave them most of the elders who protected these traits, just as it was she who ensured their future by rescuing so many kits. Now she is considered the defender of clan culture, but also of hope – is she who saw light in the darkest of times, and kept the Founders fighting long after they would have given in.

A large tom who is at once revered and hated, for he was the joint leader of the Rogue’s attack on the Valley. Best known for his brute strength and voracious appetite for battle, Nettle made for a fearsome leader and enemy, and was not one for any cat to cross. It is widely believed [by Valley cats] that his death, bought about by Cloudheart, was the blow that finally broke the Rogue’s spirits, allowing the Valley its victory. Unfortunately, the effort killed Cloudheart himself; a fact still remembered and celebrated by the militaristic descendants of Nettle’s original gang.

A new player within the Wild Lands, and one who has yet to truly make his mark. He is thought to be a young and charismatic leader; full of ideals and ambitions that make him quite the attractive cat to back. More importantly, it is widely believed that he is preparing some big, game-changing move – a spreading rumour that places him right at the centre of the Wild Landers attention.

Note: Most Valley Cats are unaware of the existence of Talon and his gang.